The cycle of Karma was a peculiar thing. Creatures, even gods commit things without much regard for the future, the only thing they would care about was what happens at the present and only what happens to them.

In this regard, humans were sometimes, only sometimes vastly different. The fragile creatures are so weak that in this weakness they would always think twice before doing something. Impulsiveness was a given, but even in the moments of insanity, a small of rationality would retain as their subconscious would make them second guess what they are about to do.

But for Immortals, it was the complete opposite. They do not think of others, especially of what would happen to mortals. Their interests solely remain on the ones who would live eternally and it was always a situation of either kill or be killed.

The Seven Sins had completely grasped this situation, for their protection, care only retained to the those of their own. They might contain affections for parties outside their seven, but if a situation presented where it was a choice between the holder of your affection or your family, they would choose the latter without a moment of hesitation.

Even the Seven Virtues were no different. For all their care for humanity, they would not ever give up one of their own for outside, even if it was for the betterment of the humanity they loved to preach of. What they cared about was about the retaining of humanity, not the human themselves.

It could be any other creature, but it was humans who boosted the powers of both the sins and the virtues. Hence it was humanity they had to protect because if they become damned their existence would have no meaning.

But all this worked just fine for them. Still residing under the terrain of the Teras academy the five of them worked hard in finding the solution for their dilemmas.

And the recent happenings at the academy had worked as they had initially anticipated. Unlike the last time, now the spelled runes of the cave were glistening with life as they absorbed the negative energy emitting from the surface.

The sins' hard work of contaminating the mortals paying off well for them. The grievances, dissatisfaction, anger of the victims of the seven sins got rapidly absorbed by the runes on the walls, the dark energy gathering around made the five scrawny black-robed men sigh in satisfaction.

Continuous manipulation of their emotions, as Pride, Envy, Greed, Gluttony, Lust, and Sloth struck at random, taking turns, the frustration welling up in the academy had increased. In return even unknown to them grievous energy had started to emit out of them.

While the Sins and the Virtues paid attention to their petty battles, the five of them had stealthily taken advantage of everything.

"I can taste it," One of them started mumbling his black eyes crinkling with insanity. "the sweet taste of victory, just an arm's length away." The joy evident said it all. Victory would be theirs.

But then suddenly the runes stopped shimmering, after giving stuttered light, everything dulled once again making the five of them look around in disbelief.

"No! What is happening?!" The leader of the five exclaimed, fury burning in his chest as he saw what was happening.

Slowly, slowly the negative energy accumulating disappeared, the runes going back to their original forms of grey and dullness.

"Why did it stop?! They were not supposed to stop!!" His agitated screams startled his companions but they could not do anything. They all flinched as his screams increased in volume but otherwise did not do anything to stop his madness.

Their leader had made careful preparations for the ritual of runes to work, ensnaring three lowly students of the academy, then finding a weakness in the investigation department, all to antagonize the sins and hurt their precious pride.

It was no secret that the seven of the sins were a volatile bunch, so they'd thought once provoked the academy of Teras would have turned to a lasting madhouse of grief, unwillingness, fear, and sorrow.

But now looking at things, it seemed the plan had not worked. The gamble leader put on the Sins' behavior had gone down the drain.

After hours of insane screaming and mad denial, the leader finally calmed down. His dark as coal eyes holding a resolute expression, having not given up hope yet.

"The first plan failed. It is time we start the next." He muttered darkly, sending chills down the rest of their spines, but they did not object. Even hints of bloody glee could found in their dark, depraved eyes.

~~>~~>~~>~~

"The demolishing of the kingdom of Lena brought about deaths of over millions of people. Children, women, men all lies lost to the evil..." The professor of history droned sweat gathering at his temples as he read further and further.

The students in the classroom look around discreetly, their eyes straying towards the two deadly sins present in the classroom.

Nicholos leaned against the wall near the window arms crossed his attention on something outside, standing directly behind Lilith who had her head on her palm resting her eyes. Both of them were perfectly aware of what the professor was teaching, and they did not even have a smithereens of care.

But they rather enjoyed the fear emitting from them.

"Tell me once again, why are we wasting time here?" Lilith asked in a mumble, eyes still closed.

"Zohar," Nicholos answered shortly resisting the urge to roll his eyes remembering the meddling god.

Zohar was the most feared and the power of all gods but to the Seven Sins, he was meddling beyond annoyance.

Even though the virtues failed to contact the goddess of Light, Zohar had sent them a message personally.

"Not to cause trouble, be good students." Had been his words.

Even though they all already thought of stopping causing mischief, attending classes once again had been not on their agenda. But after the firm warning, they had no other choice.

One may wonder why the seven would even care what the god wanted. Well, in that regard, Zohar being their guardian and the powerful god he was acted as the perfect buffer against the attacks from the other gods.

If not for the god of life, they would not have had such freedom on earth. Then they would have been just like the virtues stifled into one place just like their goddess, having to bear the pressure from others.

But Lord Zohar did not have such problems, for only fools or insane would want to become his enemy. His temper was as icy as his looks.

"And why are you standing?" Lilith continued with her questions, finding it fun to bother her prideful brother.

"I do not like the feeling of having to sit with a bunch of kids." Nicholos did not refuse to answer.

"Are you saying I am a kind?"

"You are." Came the short answer.

Huffing at his rude behavior Lilith went back to dutifully resting her eyes ignoring his arrogant ass.

Another few months and they could be out of this stupid place.

"The unknown influence of madness later that struck the kings of both sides were still a mystery..." Amidst this disrespectful behavior, the professor still continued with his lesson.

"Shall we get out of here? I don't think Mr. Glen would mind." Lilith suggested now sitting up straight. She wanted to get out so she could ask something from Nicholos. The topic had been harassing her mind for years now.

When no answer came from above, she leaned her back looking at him with cute eyes, even her voice softening.

"Please?" Seeing her like this even Nicholos could not refuse, so nodding he walked out after signaling the professor and Lilith followed behind an excited skip in her step.

It was not in vain that she'd paid some attention when Amara bragged about womanly charm.

And Nicholos could only shake his head at this behavior. It was a blessing that she had a lazy streak to her, if not, with her mischievous behavior the men in the world would have long since descended to their doom. Even Amara would have lost her place as the Sin of Lust, not that he would speak of it out loud anytime soon. He wished to keep the disastrous thought with him eternally.

Nicholos had no wish to get stuck between a fight of two sisters. He could almost imagine the horrors such a thing would bring.

Unaware of where her prideful brother's thoughts had gone Lilith contemplated on how to start the topic.

It was the most bizarre of things. For all the time the god of life had spent with them, she could not remember even an instant when he had talked to her directly. But Lilith could perfectly remember the god speaking to even Damien and Col.

"Nicholos, have you noticed Zohar's peculiar behavior when it comes to me?" She asked straightly tired of thinking of the stupid topic.

"What?" Nicholos turned his head towards her and she immediately continued.

"I mean, have you noticed that when he is present he always talked to the rest of you and he seemed to practically find me invisible? You might not believe me but for all the time I've known him I've not yet exchanged a word with him." Even she felt how absurd she sounded, but the nagging in her heart would just not go away.

It was as if she was forgetting something very important, something very dear to her.

"He talks to you the most, so do you perhaps know the reason?" Her voice became hesitant and Nicholos coughed lightly before quickly searching his brain for an appropriate answer. But unable to come up with anything believable he decided to settle on ignorance.

"I think you might be thinking too much. There are seven of us you know, it might have been a coincidence and besides, I've not found anything unusual like that." He spoke seriously and Lilith nodded her slowly.

"Yeah, must be." But her voice did not contain even a tiny bit of conviction.

But knowing she would just sound even weirder if she asked further Lilith hanged the subject, asking how his powers had been these days.

"Yes, the accumulation had grown rapidly, especially after we'd stopped tormenting the mortals here." Pride spoke.

"It is the same for me too. Even now I could feel the energy begging for absorption." Lilith agreed bewildered.

When humans indulged in sins the power they accumulate from them was massive. Usually each month they would get massive boosts of power, thanks to the humans.

But now it had increased at an unimaginable rate. Every moment someone seemed to be enjoying debauchery and evil for an extended period of time.

"Since coming here, something seemed to have changed. I do not like the vibe I'm getting." Lilith warned before bidding farewell already bored with the conversation.

Looking at her back Nicholos sighed heavily.

His sister was correct, something had definitely changed and by the way, Zohar had been acting Nicholos could guess what had happened.

But before everything he needed to speak to the bloody god. The god's secrets were one day going to be the death of him, especially if Lilith ever finds out.

May the fiery hells have mercy then. And even he could understand how impossible it was.

~~>~~>~~>~~

The academy of Teras was about to undergo a chaotic period. All with the arrivals of the seven sins. Crimes targetting them, then their petty revenge which suddenly vanished. Now the sudden increase in the sin in the world, how it all would end was something only the sins themselves could decide.